History of Niger State: From Precolonial Times to Present

Niger State is the largest state in Nigeria, in the North Central area. It was made in 1976 from part of the old North-Western State. The capital is Minna, and other main cities are Bida, Kontagora, and Suleja. Two former Nigerian military leaders, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, come from there.

The state is named after the River Niger. It has big dams that make electricity, including Kainji, Shiroro, and Zungeru. Famous places to visit are Gurara Falls and Kainji National Park. People in the state belong to tribes like Nupe, Gbagyi, Kamuku, Kambari, Gungawa, Hun-Saare, Hausa, and Koro.

• Best Power Banks in Nigeria: Comprehensive Review of The Top 10 
• How To Join A Free Football Academy In Lagos State, Nigeria

History of Niger State

Niger State has a long history. In the 1800s, many people left or were taken by the Fulani armies from Kontagora and Nupe during slave raids. The tsetse fly also made it hard for people and animals to live there. In 1908, the British made it Niger Province, and from 1918 to 1926 it was called Nupe Province. It had many smaller kingdoms and chiefdoms. In 1967, it became part of North-Western State, and in 1976 it was named Niger State. In 1991, part of northwestern Kwara State was added.

Many ethnic groups live in Niger State, including Nupe, Gwari, Busa, Kamberi, Hausa, Fulani, Kamuku, and Dakarki. Farming is very important, with crops like cotton, shea nuts, yams, peanuts, millet, cowpeas, corn, tobacco, palm oil, kola nuts, sugarcane, and fish. Paddy rice grows in the floodplains and is sold for money. People also raise animals like cows, goats, sheep, chickens, guinea fowl, and pigs.

The state has mining for gold, tin, iron, and quartz, and people make crafts like pottery, brass, glass, raffia, and dyed cloth. There are dams, like the Niger Dams Project and Kainji Dam, which produce electricity and help with irrigation. Niger State is also known for natural beauty, especially Kainji Lake National Park.

The main towns, Minna and Bida, are education centres with teacher-training colleges, a polytechnic, and a federal university of technology. Highways connect the towns and markets for trade and travel.

Government of Niger State

The government of this State, like many other Nigerian states, operates under a democratic system. The current governor of Niger State is Abubakar Sani Bello, who was elected by the people. The governor works in collaboration with the Niger State House of Assembly. The capital city of Niger State is Minna.

Niger State is divided into three Senatorial Zones or Districts, namely Niger East, Niger North, and Niger South. These zones play a significant role in the governance and representation of the state.

The electoral system in the State follows a modified two-round system. In the first round of elections, a candidate must receive the majority of the votes and at least 25% of the votes in a minimum of two-thirds of the local government areas in the state. If no candidate meets these criteria, a second round of voting is held between the top candidate and the candidate with the highest number of votes in the most local government areas.

LGAs in Niger State

The State is divided into 25 local government areas, each led by a local government chairman. These areas are further divided into districts, with each district having a district head. Additionally, villages within the state are headed by village heads. The local government areas in Niger State include Agaie, Agwara, Bida, Borgu, Bosso, Chanchaga, Edati, Gbako, Gurara, Katcha, Kontagora, Lapai, Lavun, Magama, Mariga, Mashegu, Mokwa, Munya, Paikoro, Rafi, Rijau, Shiroro, Suleja, Tafa, and Wushishi.

Tertiary institutions

This state is home to several tertiary educational institutions, including the Federal Polytechnic in Bida, the Federal University of Technology in Minna, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University in Lapai, Niger State Polytechnic in Zungeru, Federal College of Education in Kontagora, Edusoko University in Bida, New Gate University in Minna, Niger State College of Education in Minna, Government Technical College in Minna, Government Technical College in Kontagora, Niger State College of Nursing in Bida, Government Technical College in Bussa, Government Technical College Eyagi in Bida, New Gate College of Health Science and Technology in Minna, School of Basic Midwifery in Minna, and Federal Government Girls in Bida.

Natural resources

This Northern State is rich in natural resources, with a diverse range of valuable minerals. These include uranium, coal, gold, iron ore, tin, phosphate, crude oil, molybdenum, salt, and gypsum. The presence of these resources provides significant potential for economic development and growth in the state.

Languages

The State is home to a diverse range of languages. In different Local Government Areas (LGAs) within the state, various languages are spoken. For example, in Agaie LGA, the languages spoken include Nupe, Dibo, and Kakanda. In Bida LGA, the languages spoken are Nupe, Hausa, BassaNge, and Gbari. The Borgu LGA is home to languages such as Busa, Bisã, Boko, Cishingini, Laru, and Reshe. Chanchaga LGA has Basa-Gumna, Basa-Gurmana, Gbagyi, Gbari, Nupe, Kamuku, and Tanjijili as its languages. These are just a few examples, as there are many more languages spoken throughout Niger State, reflecting the rich linguistic diversity of the region.

Climate

Niger State experiences a predominantly warm climate, with an average yearly temperature of 34 degrees Celsius. The region maintains a consistently warm or hot climate throughout the year, with a few months exhibiting typically tropical and sultry conditions. However, the humidity levels can be uncomfortably high from June to September. For travelers, the best time to visit is from November to April, as there is less rainfall during this period. The rainy season occurs from May to October, with September having the highest number of rainy days and December experiencing the least. In terms of sunshine, January is the sunniest month, while August is the least sunny.

Article updated 3 weeks ago ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.